Improvement in flour-commodes



J'. JOHNSON. Flour commode.

WITNESSES: INVENTZR;

B ATTORNEYS. I

.N- PEI'ERS. FHOTO LITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. DC.

UNITED STATES PATENT JOSEPH JOHNSON, OF MARSHALLTOWN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND F. A.

ZIEGER, OF ELDORA, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLOUR-COMMODES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,205, dated March 11, 1879 application filed December 30, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH JoHNsoN, of Marshalltown, in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Flour-Gommode, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to furnish a compact and convenient receptacle for holding flour and meal for household use.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line m m of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on line 3 y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on line 2 z of Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My improved commode consists of two principal parts a chest or base, A, preferably constructed of wood, and an upper cylindrical case, B, which is preferably made of sheet metal, and its lower end sits within a circular opening in base A, leaving a ledge around the top of A.

The baseA contains three drawers, ab 0. The upper one, a, is the full width of the chest, while I) and c are side by side, and will be more particularly described hereinafter. The drawer a is to receive flour from case B in such quantities as may be required.

The case will be large enough to contain, say, half a barrel of flour or more. It is furnished at the lower end with a fine sieve, (1, upon the upper side of which is a rubber or scraper, e, for keeping the openings in the sievefree, and causing the flour to pass through. This scraper 0 consists of a number of radial bars from a central hub that carries a crankarm, f, to which is connected, by a link, f, a sliding handle-rod, g. that projects at the front of chest A, so that by moving the handle in and out the scraper may be reciprocated, and the flour sifted into drawer a.

Above the sieve d in case B is a grid of bars h, which are made fast to the sides of B, or connected to an annular rim, which is supported on lugs on the sides of B, so as to be" removable. These bars it serve to sustain the body of flour in the case to keep the weight that flour passing into it drops down upon sieve d. m is the cover of case B.

By this construction flour can be kept in the case B free from dust, and the quantity desired for use at one time can be sifted nto 7 drawer a. There are a number of cross-bars, n, passing across case B, beneath sieve d, to prevent it from bagging down.

As a convenient means for connecting and securing case B in place on chest A, a flanged ring, 0, is first placed in the circular opening in the top of A, its upper flange resting around the edge of the opening, and its lower flange, that extends inward, supports an inner concentric ring, 19, between which and the ring 0 the sieve d is secured by pressing the rings together. The bottom of case B sits within ring 17, and is further secured by screws that pass through lugs q, attached to B, into the top of chest A.

The drawers 1) c are provided for holding other kinds of flour, such as Graham flour or meal. They are to be filled by drawing them out, and the flour or meal put in at the top.

The front of each drawer b or c is furnished with a slide, r, covering an opening, through which the material can be taken out by means of a scoop.

To facilitate removal of the meal, and insure its feeding down, each drawer b c is fitted with an inclined partition, 8, that extends to near the bottom of the drawer, leaving a narrow opening for a scoop of suitable shape to remove the meal.

If desired, the drawers b 0 can be fitted with sieves in the same manner as case B.

There is another advantage in the use of the drawers I) c, in connection with the upper drawer, that when a is taken out the fine flour which may sift down by the jar falls into the lower drawers, where it does no harm, while it would cause annoyance if it were not thus got rid of. v

The above-described apparatus forms a very convenient article for household use. It prevents much of the trouble and annoyance connected with the use of flour, keeps the different kinds in a convenient manner for use and free from dust, occupies but little room, and the upper drawer serves as a vessel for carryin g the fiour to the place where it is to be used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Aflour-commode constructed of the base or chest A, having drawers a b c, and a case, B, fitted with a sieve, d, and scraper e, substantially as described and shown, and for the purposes specified.

2. In a flour-commode, the combination and arrangement of the chest A and drawer a with the case B, containing a sieve, d, scraper 0, grid h, and scraper z, substantially as described and shown, and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a flour-commode consisting of a chest or base, A, and case B, substantially as described, the supplementary drawers 1) c, fitted with slides a, substantially as described and shown, and for the purposes specified.

4. In a flour-commode, substantially as de scribed and shown, the supplementary drawers I) 0, having a front opening, and fitted with an inclined partition, 8, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

JOSEPH JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

J. M. PARKER, L. H. BERRY. 

